How to respond to an executive’s dumb idea

MyRagan blogger Cassandra suggests a few phrases to stop stupid ideas from being implemented

Sometimes, people want to do really stupid communications. By people, I mean executives. It is our job as responsible communicators to stop them.

It isn’t easy. You can’t just march up to them and say, “Fred, that is a really stupid idea. It may be the stupidest idea I’ve heard, and believe me, I’ve heard some ideas that make the concept of starting a bonfire on the Hindenburg while handing out lighter-fluid cocktails seem positively genius. I’m not sure why you even thought it, it’s that stupid. Perhaps you overdid your meds this morning, or your tie is on too tight, or you had a sudden break with reality due to the stress of being a big, swanky exec. It doesn’t matter to me, because either way, I will not for the merest moment entertain your stupid, stupid idea.”